UN Deputy Secretary General calls to protect journalists

 With journalists working in dangerous corners of the world being thrown in prison or murdered in record numbers, the Deputy Secretary-General joined veteran reporters urging the United Nations Security Council to stand up against all acts to suppress media freedom wherever and whenever they occur.

"When journalists are killed, information about threats to international peace and security is often buried," Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson told the Council in a special meeting devoted to the protection of journalists in armed conflict. He added that the 15-member body may wish to consider the targeting of journalists and other threats to freedom of expression when addressing situations on its agenda.

Every time a journalist is killed or intimidated into silence, "there is one less voice to speak on behalf of the victims of conflict, crime and human rights abuses:one less observer of efforts to uphold rights and ensure human dignity," said Mr. Eliasson.

Today's meeting is the first time the Council specifically considers the issue of protection of journalists in armed conflict since it adopted resolution 1738 on the issue in 2006, and the first time four international journalists directly address the UN body.

Eliasson said that in the past decade, more than 600 journalists have been killed, the majority local journalists and media staff often reporting on corruption and other illegal activities. It is "shocking and unacceptable" that more than 90 per cent of the assassinations on journalists go unpunished, he noted, urging that "the least we can do when a journalist is murdered, is to ensure that the death is investigated swiftly and justice is served."

The UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issues of Impunity aims to create a free and safe environment for journalists and media workers, both in conflict and non-conflict situations, as a prerequisite for freedom of expression and democracy. The Plan was approved in April 2012 by the UN Chief Executives Board and led by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).-0-